The “Pink Cloud” in Recovery
As you very well may know, there is a fine line in recovery between confidence in yourself that you will no longer make the same mistakes that you made when in active addiction and a sense of overconfidence in your abilities that are not necessarily grounded in reality. You may have heard this phenomenon called the “Pink Cloud Syndrome,” where individuals may leave detox feeling "high on life," or believe that they have entered into the final stages of their recovery before doing any of the work it requires. Someone may experience this phenomenon as the fog finally lifts after years of substance abuse, where they can finally take part in a life that is free from the struggle of addiction.
While it can be enticing to remain happy and positive about one’s sobriety, it offers a worldview that is neither honest nor realistic. In some ways they're feeling almost "too good" about their recovery, and open themselves up to a much harder fall when the delusion dissipates. Rather than a true sign of hope, a “pink cloud” is something that should be met with caution.
Why does this happen?
Falling under the spell of the pink cloud can make someone believe that maintaining sobriety is easy and that they don’t have to put forth much effort or use much willpower to avoid relapse. Those in long-term recovery know the opposite to be true, that one’s recovery journey is a daily practice, requiring strength and persistence.
Sometimes individuals early in treatment have unrealistic expectations about what treatment and recovery will look like. And sometimes it seems like treatment centers do their best to keep it that way. With photos plastered on every webpage of individuals out paddle boarding, or doing yoga or insta-worthy food pictures or even some promising photos of community gatherings, it can be easy to see why individuals may be misled about the truth of recovery being a challenging and difficult process.
Addiction in many ways can be thought of as the thrill of the highs and lows. By believing in this false sense of confidence, individuals stuck in this pattern continue that rollercoaster ride right into their recovery. However, when the bubble pops, and the pink cloud fades away to reveal it was not sturdy ground after all, they’re left unprepared.
Why is it a problem?
Although being in this state may feel inherently hopeful, the price is turning a blind eye to the real problems at hand, and perhaps more importantly, not being prepared for when they rear their ugly heads in the future. In some ways, individuals with their heads in the “pink clouds” are still detached from reality, still employing avoidance coping skills reminiscent of their days in active addiction in order to not face the challenges of the real world. This overconfidence in themselves tends to only lead to disappointment when they are forced to face the reality of what they left behind when they came to treatment. When they return, any past traumas, dysfunctional family relationships, messy finances, and legal issues may be waiting at the door to greet them.
What these individuals temporarily forget is that recovery is a long process. It requires work and it requires facing those inner demons. Only with the true surrender to the process, can they allow their ego to step aside in order to atone for what's already been done and recognize that the journey back requires all of what's left of them.
